Portable field antenna, usable above dense foliage



Sept 13, 1966 P. J. lcENBicE, JR 3,273,153

PORTABLE FIELD ANTENNA. USABLE ABOVE DENSE FOLIAGE Filed Sept. 16, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, 1966 p J, |CENB|CE, JR 3,273,153

PORTABLE FIELD ANTENNA. USABLE ABOVE DENSE FOLIAGE Filed Sept. 16, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Farrar/ffl and Inf/rer Sept. 13, 1966 P. J. lcENBlcE, JR 3,273,153

PORTABLE FIELD ANTENNA, USABLE ABOVE DENSE FOLIAGE Filed sept. 1e, 1965 s sheets-sheet s United States Patent O 3,273,153 PORTABLE FIELD ANTENNA, USABLE ABOVE DENSE FGLIAGE Phineas J. Icenbice, Jr., Los Angeles (Northridge), Calif.,

assignor to Litton Systems, Inc., Woodland Hills, California Filed Sept. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 309,017 11 Claims. (Cl. 343-706) The present invention relates to a portable field antenna and, more particulasly, to a light weight, quickly erected, radio transmission antenna for use in heavily wooded environments.

Establishing radio communication between two distant locations requires that, in addition to providing each location with a transmitter and receiver, each transmitterreceiver must be provided with an antenna. In regions where there are few trees, erecting such an antenna presents no problem. For example, in such regions a short antenna may be affixed directly to an output terminal of the transmitter and receiver; a tower may be erected for supporting 'a radio antenna; `or an inflated balloon may be used to `carry the antenna aloft. In tropical rain forests, dense jungle, or other heavily wooded areas, where the moist, compact overgrowth of tree foliage (jungle canopy) renders an antenna operating at ground level relatively ineffective by absorbing substantially all of the radiated field energy of the antenna, the known methods of erecting an antenna are not applicable to the raising of an antenna above the jungle canopy. Special problems are encountered because of the facts that the jungle canopy is generally higher than 75 feet and that there are seldom available in these canopies large openings through which the antenna could be projected. Moreover, in situations where emergency `communication must be quickly established (by forest fire fighting or jungle-based military personnel, for example), valuable time is wasted by attempting to raise an antenna above the tree tops by any conventional method. Accordingly, the antenna requirements of persons deep in heavily wooded areas have dictated a need for a portable antenna system that can be erected above the jungle canopy in a few seconds.

The present invention provides a compact, light weight, easily transportable device for raising an antenna above the jungle canopy and keeping it there ready for radio transmission. More particularly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna package is made similar in shape to a rie grenade and is launched as is the conventional rifle grenade commonly used in military applications. The antenna package, as launched, houses an antenna wire, one end of which is attached to a deilated balloon and the other end of which is connected to Ia suitable transmission line for connecting the antenna wire to the transmitter-receiver. The antenna package, equipped with a blunt nose cone for enabling it to withstand the shock of being plunged through a dense jungle canopy and side control fins for imparting aerodynamic stability to the package during its Hight, breaks its way through the dense foliage and rises to a predetermined altitude above the jungle canopy. At this altitude the antenna package separates into two sections. The first section, housing a gas container and a valve mechanism, draws the deflated balloon from the second section and begins to inflate it. The balloon, in turn, draws the antenna wire from the second section and lifts the antenna wire into the air. When the balloon is fully intlated, the gas container 'and valve mechanism are detached from the balloon, allowing the balloon to fully extend the antenna, now ready for the Vreception and/ or emission of radio signals. The second section of the antenna pack-age settles down and lodges itself in :the jungle canopy making an electrical as well as mechanical 3,273,153 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 contact with the moist foliage for enabling the antenna to operate as a type of ground plane antenna.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to improve communication between ground based personnel in a heavily wooded region with personnel in other remote locations.

A further object of the p-resent invention is to erect an antenna above tree top level in a heavily wooded area.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a light weight, easily transportable antenna system that can be erected in a few seconds.

Still a further object of the present invention is to maintain an antenna above a jungle canopy once it has been projected to that location.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic lof the present invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects Iand. advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated -by Way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a delinition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a cross-sectional View of the antenna projectile of the present invention positioned on a rifle grenade launching adapter;

FIGURE la illustrates a rear end View of the antenna projectile illustrated in FIGURE l;

In FIGURE lb is illustrated yan alternate embodiment of the upper shell portion of the antenna projectile as shown in FIGURE l;

In FIGURE 1c is illustrated one embodiment of locking mechanism that may be employed in the mechanization of the antenna projectile illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 1d illustrates one type of biasing spring that may be employed in the locking mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1c;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the sequence of operation for erecting an antenna above a jungle canopy by the use of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the antenna package fully erected v above the jungle canopy; and

FIGURE 4 illustrates one form of valve release mechanism for intercoupling the gas bottle yand balloon of the present invention illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4a is a view taken along section line 4a--4a of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE l an antenna package 9 mechanized in accordance j with the present invention which is positioned on a grenade launching adapted 10 affixed to the muzzle of a rifle 12. The antenna package 9 `contains an antenna wire 19 that is to be erected above the jungle canopy.

It should be expressly understood, at this time, that other means of launching a projectile than a riile, such as for example, a flare gun or a eld mortar or other type of projecting mechanism may be adapted to launch the antenna package of the present invention.

Referring with particul-arity to the mechanization of the antenna erecting mechanism as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the antenna package 9 comprises features analogous to a projectile including a nose cone 13 fitted within a cylindrical container 11 to which is firmly attached a tail assembly including a launching tube 16 having a set of four control fins 21 positioned thereon at 90 angles from one another around the launching tube. A set of four radial arms 23 are attached to the container 11 by a set of corresponding spring brackets 25. The radial arms are lirmly locked in place adjacent the tail assembly `high lgas pressures. .extremely rugged if manufactured using stainless steel, this during the launching of the antenna package, Ibut the `locking mechanism is tripped open as the radial arms brush through the tree foliage. This allows the spring brackets 25 to extend the radial arms out-ward from the launching tube for later supporting part of the antenna manufactured from a number of suitable materials (such as, for example, stainless steel) capable of withstanding Thus, while the nose `cone would be metal in thesuggested form is relatively light in weight and does not affect the aerodynamic stability of the projectile. manufactured of an electrically nonconductive material (such as, for example, Fiberglas) to insulate the antenna from the moist foliage when the container lodges in the jungle canopy.

`valve-release mechanism 17 is initially actuated by a lever arm 54 connected by a low tensile strength cord 80 to a terminal 20 located on the inner wall of the container 11. Furthermore, an electrical rconnector 31 is provided in the bottom of the container 11 for interconnecting the second end of the antenna wire 19 and a length of transmission line 30, the transmission line leading from the antenna package to a Spooling apparatus 40 in which the `transmission line is uniformly coiled.

Spooling apparatus 40 may comprise, for example, a removable plug 42, around which the transmission line may be coiled; a container having asmall aperture 4S therein through which the transmission line is passed to T the antenna package; an electrical connector 43, mounted to the bottom of the container, to which the end of transmission line 30 is fastened and to which may be also The container 11, on the other hand, is normally coupled the radio transmitting and receiving equipment;'

and a spike member' 41 that extends downwardly from the container so as to enable the Spooling apparatus to be affixed to the ground, thereby giving the apparatus adequate support during' the launching of the antenna package. The dispensing of transmission line from the conytainer is accomplished without drag and friction of moving reels or parts. More particularly, the transmission line is wound so as to dispense from the hollow center of a cone of transmission line when the plug 42 is removed. Accordingly, there are no commutators and no reliability problems usually associated with the commutator operation.

Balloon 15 may be fabricated of any of a numberV of well known flexible materials (as, for example, rubber or Mylar) and must be of 'adequate size to provide the necessary buoyancy for supporting only the weight of the antenna wire. For example, it has been calculated that a balloon having a diameter of 2 ft., which is inflated with helium gas, would adequately support the weight of 0.293 pound of antenna wire 19, radial arms 23 being used to support substantially all the weight of the antenna package (less its nose cone) and to counteract the downward pull of the transmission line.

Referring now to FIGURE 1a, there is shown an end view of antenna package 9 illustrating the relative positions of the control tins 21 and the radial arms 23 that are connected to the launching tube 16 and the container 11, respectively. In addition, it is shown that the connector 31 is located in the base of the container 11 adjacent to one of the control tins 21.

In FIGURE-1b there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of the container 11 of the antenna package that provides a different method of releasing the balloon 1S. More particularly, the gas containing nose cone 13 is made an inseparable part of the lcontainer 11'; and, furthermore, the container 11' has a large aperture cut in one side thereof. From the bottom of this aperture, a sloping inner surface rises to the top of the container. On this vsloping inner surface would be positioned the collapsed balloon connected, for example, to a time actuated valve 17 that, as before, interconnects the gas chamber and the balloon. The inflating ball-oon would draw the antenna wire 19 from a lower compartment ythrough small aperture 18 in the inner slope. Employing this em-bodiment of container would facilitate the use of a larger balloon which would be ejected from the side of the container as it was being inflated and which would be capable of supporting the entire weight of the antenna package, including nose cone 13. This feature would make unnecessary the operation, hereinafter described, of separating the nose cone from the main body of the antenna package.

In FIGURE 1c is illustrated one type of locking mechanism that may be employed in the mechanization of the projectile-like antenna package for temporarily locking the radial arms 23 close to the tail assembly during the launching phase of operation of the antenna package. Specifically, as projectile 9 is launched, a hook 27, pivotally coupled to radial arm 23, is engaged With with a corresponding hook 28 aflixed to the launching tube 16. In this position, radial arm 23, coupled to the container 11 through the spring-biased mount 25, does not interfere with the passage of the projectile through the foliage of the jungle canopy. A spring 26 of the spring mount 25 is held in compression when radial arm 23 is locked in this vertical position. As the radial arm pushes against the foliage, while passing through the jungle canopy, the arm is slightly depressed inward towards the tail assembly, thereby disengageing hook 27 from hook 28. Hook 27 is pivoted downward by gravitationalv forces away from hook 28 while, simultaneously, spring 26 acts to swing the radial arm outward in a horizontal direction from the tail assembly. If the hooks are prematurely disengaged Iby the radial arms contacting a low branch before the antenna package is fully clear of the jungle anopy, the radial arms are capable of being readily pivoted downward back into their vertical position when further foliage is encountered by the projectile. This takes place without signicantly altering the ight path of the projectile.

One type of biasing spring 26 that may be used in the mechanization of spring mount 25 is illustrated in FIG- URE ld. As is readily apparent, the dual-spiral configuration of the spring 26 enables the spring to readily lift the radial arm 23 to a postion outwardly directed from the projectile.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 and assuming that an instant communication link is to be established between a remote location and a station located in a jungle terrain, and that the jungle station must have its antenna projected to a position above the tree tops, the antenna package 9 is placed on the grenade launching adaptor attached to the muzzle of the rie 12. Spike 41 of the transmission line container 40 is placed in the ground in front of the rifle; the transmitter-receiver is attached to the connector 43; and the plug 42 is removed from the container. The rie is placed in a suitable position for aiming and launching such a projectile and is tired. The antenna package drives its way through the tree foliage drawing behind it the transmission line. As the antenna package 9 passes through the jungle canopy, tree foliage trips the locking mechanism causing the radial arms to be swung outward from the projectile body by the biasing spring 26. When the antenna package has reached a predetermined altitude, as determined by the length of trans` mission lline attached to it, it stops; and the inertia of nose cone 13 causes it to separate from the restrained container 11 of the antenna package. As the nose cone pulls away from the container, it draws the collapsed balloon 15, valve release mechanism 17, and the antenna wire 19 from the container; and the low tensile strength cord 80, attached to the lever arm 54 of valve release 17, is drawn tight. Just before the low tensile strength cord breaks, it moves lever arm 54, thereby opening valve 17 and enabling balloon 15 to be iniiated by the gas stored in the nose cones gas container 14. When the balloon has iniiated to its full diameter, the valve release mechanism 17 separates from the balloon; and the gas container and valve continue on the projected path away from the balloon. Balloon 15, thereafter, lifts the antenna wire into the air from the container 11; but, because of the added weight of the container and transmission line, the balloon and container descend and lodge the extended radial arms in the canopy, permitting the balloon to support adequately the antenna wire in an erect position. The radial arms make an electrical as well as mechanical contact with the moist foliage and enable the antenna to operate as a type of ground plane antenna. It will, of course, be recognized that the length of the antenna wire 19 is dependent up on the particular frequency of radio transmission. Once fully extended, however, the antenna is ready for the reception or emission of radio signals.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the container 11 of the antenna package is shown with the antenan wire 19 fully extended therefrom and supported by iniiated balloon 15. As is readily apparent, radial arms 23 have been fully extended by spring mounts 25 so as to enable the package to be lodged in the jungle canopy, thus supporting the weight of the container 11 and the transmission line 30, coupled t-o electrical connector 31. The antenna, so erected, is a self-supported, etiicient vertical antenna, fed by a vertical length of transmission line. With the antenna above the jungle canopy, transmitting and receiving efficiency is considerably increased since the heavy tree foliage no longer shields the propagating eld of the antenna.

In FIGURE 4 is illustrated an extremely simple valverelease 'mechanism that could be employed in the mechanization of the antenna package of the present invention. More specifically, there is shown in FIGURE 4 one type of valve release mechanism 17 including a tube 48 for interconnecting the gas container 14 and the balloon 15. In the tube 48 is located a butterfly valve 50 rotatably mounted on a shaft S2 and actuated by the lever arm 54. In the closed position of the yvalve 50, the ends thereof are held against a pair of stops 55 which provide a tight seal to gas in the gas container 14. Located in the wall of tube 48, on the gas container side of valve 50, is mounted a iiex-ible diaphragm 60 to which is attached a pushrod 62. To the end of the rod 62 is pivotally mounted one end of a lever arm 164, the other end of the lever arm 64 being machined so as to form a knife blade 65 that is normally recessed in a slot 66 in the wall of the tube 48. The balloon is attached to the tube 48, during the launching and iniiation phases of operation of the present invention, by means of a cord 68 tied around the balloon 15 and laid in a slot 67 around the tube 48. The cord is tied so as to pass over the knife slot of the tube 48 such that, when the diaphragm `60 returns to its low pressure position, the knife blade 65 is pressed firmly against the tie string so as to sever it and release the balloon from the tube.

During the inflation phase of operation of the present invention, a check valve 70, located in the neck of the balloon 15, is opened by the pressure of the gas iiowing from the `gas container 14 to the balloon 115 through the valving mechanism. More particularly, in the closed posi- Ation of the valve 50, a ball y712 of the check valve 70 is held tightly in the narrowest dimension of the balloon neck aperture. However, when the valve 50 is open, thereby allowing the gas in the gas container 1-4 to be released into the balloon, the ball -72 is driven downwards into the balloon and is lheld against a multiapertured plate 74 built within the neck of the balloon. The apertures in the plate 74 allow the gas to pass freely into the balloon, but inhibit the ball 72 from passing thereinto. When the balloon is fully initiated and is subsequently cut free of the tube 48, the gas pressure within the balloon 15 drives the ball 72 back into the narrow aperture of the balloon neck, thereby closing the check valve 70 and sealing the gas in the balloon.

To further clarify the sequence of operation ofthe valve release mechanism 17, it should be noted that the gas pressure in the gas container 14 holds the diaphragm 60 in its fully extended position, thereby holding the knife blade 65 on the lever arm 64 in the recessed slot 66 away from the tie cord 68. Slot 66 is shaped with rounded corners and smooth surfaces such that the balloon may be readily pushed behind the knife blade into the slot without tearing the balloon. However, when the valve 50 is opened to inflate the balloon, thereby reducing gas pressure in the container 14, the knife blade is pulled out of the slot by the lever arm 64 and is pressed against the t-ie cord. This movement is suicient to cut the tie cord, enabling the nose cone and valve to pull away from the balloon and continue on the projected path.

The valve 50 is mounted within the tube 48 such that when the arm 54 is pulled downward by the low tensile strength cord 80, a spring catch is released which causes valve 50 to rotate and stop in its lfully open position, 90 away from the closed position. To further illustrate the valve action, a cross-sectional of tube 48, just below valve 50, is illustrate-d in FIGURE 4a. In this ligure the valve 50 is illustrated in the process of opening, that is, a spring 516 mounted on the shaft 52 is acting on the valve 50 to rotate the valve from its closed to its fully open position.

`It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. 'It will, of course, be recognized that numerous modifications and alterations may be made in the mechanization of the above described antenna erecting mechanism without -departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example and not of limitation, many well known valve mechanisms and release mechanisms, known to those skilled in the art, may be utilized in coupling the gas container to the balloon. Moreover, a number of valves commonly employed in the balloon art are equally applicable for sealing the b-alloon, once fully inflated. 'In this regard, a needle valve comprising a blunt needle, similar to that used for inflating -basketballs and the like, may be used as the transfer link between the gas container and the balloon. A time-actuated valve device may be substituted for the control between the gas container and the needle valve, and a set of disconnecting push arms may be included for urging the balloon away yfrom this needle valve. Furthermore, the device described herein is illustrated as employing the lifting power of a rifle for launching the antenn-a package above the tree level. Equally efficient means of launching the projectile, as for example, a iiare gun, a iield mortar, or compressed air mechanism, would be fully within the scope of lthe present invention. Still further, a number of means of securing the spring loaded radial arms in a downward position during the launching phase of operation of the antenna package coul-d be used in mechanizing the projectile.V For example, the radial arms could be secured in place by means of a slip ring that is released by a lanyard attached to the transmission line spooling apparatus. The lanyard would be the same length as the transmission line, such that the slip ring would be pulled free and the radial arms extended when the maximum altitude was reached by the projectile. Another embodiment of the present invention could employ other small antenna configurations that a-re not supported by a balloon, but which are self-supported whip or beam antennas pneumatically ejected from the antenna package, once lodged in the tree tops. Accordingly, it is to be expressly understood that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for raising a portable eld antenna above heavily wooded areas, said apparatus comprising:

first means for launching a projectile-like body to a predetermined altitude;

a projectile having a container therein and being engageable with said first means for being launched thereby;

an an-tenna housed within said container;

second means housed within said container for extending said antenna from said container;

third means connected to said antenna for supporting said antenna when extended;

a length of transmission line connected to said antenna,

said length of transmission line defining said prededetermine-d altitude;

fourth means for dispensing said transmission lines;

a plurality of spring-biased arms mounted to the side of said projectile, and radially extendable therefrom; and

means for holding said arms close to said projectile as sai-d projectile is launched and for pivoting said arms to extend outward from said projectile when said arms contact foliage of the wooded area, said arms being operative to support said container on said foliage and to provide a ground plane for said antenna.

2. Apparatus for raising a portable field antenna system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means for launching a projectile-like body comprises a rifle adapted for the lunching of riiie grenades.

3. Antenna-erecting apparatus for carrying an antenna -above thick jungle foliage and m-aintaing it there in an operative position, sai-d apparatus comprising:

a container;

a launching tube connected to said container, said tube having a plurality of control tins attached to the outside surface thereof;

a vessel for containing gas under pressure, said vessel being joined to said container;

an antenna housed within said container;

support means transiently housed within said container and connected to said container for withdrawing said antenna from said container and maintaining said antenna in an operat-ive position once it is Withdrawn;

valve means for selectively conveying gas from said vessel to said support means;

a plurality of arms pivotally mounted to said container to be normally close thereto and being spring-biased to extend outward in a radial direction from said container for supporting said container in the jungle foliage; and

means actuated by contact with the jungle foliage for pivoting said arms to their outwardly extended positions.

4. The antenna-erecting projectile defined in claim 3 wherein said launching tube is cylindrical in shape so as to engage with a rifle grenade launching adapter.

5. Apparatus for raising a portable field antenna, said apparatus comprising:

launching means;

a projectile having a cavity therein and being engageable with said launching means;

means connected to said projectile for lodging said projectile in tree foliage;

an antenna housed within said projectile;

a transmission line connected to said antenna;

means yfor containing and dispensing said transmission line as said projectile is launched;

a nose 'cone having a pressure vessel therein for containing gas at a rlrst pressure, said nose cone being frictionally engaged at one end of said projectile;

an inflatable balloon temporarily housed in said projectile, said balloon being connected to said antenna for extending said antenna from said projectile;

valve means interconnecting said pressure vessel and said balloon for conveying gas to said balloon;

control means connected to said Valve means and responsive to gas in said vessel at a second pressure lower than said first pressure for disconnecting said valve means from said balloon; and

means for activating said valve means including apparatus for placing tensionV on said transmission line at a predetermined altitude of said projectile, whereby said nose cone is separated from sai-d projectile and draws said balloon therefrom.

6. Apparatus for raising a portable field antenna above heavy tree foliage, said apparatus comprising:

a projectile having a cavity therein;

means for launching said projectile above the tree foliage;

an antenna housed within the cavity within said prof jectile;

means for extending said antenna from said projectile when said projectile has travelled to a predetermined altitude above the tree foliage;

a length of transmission line connected to said antenna,

said length defining said predetermined altitude; means for containing and dispensing said transmission line as said projectile is launched; a plurality of spring-biased arms mounted to the side of said projectile, said arms being locked initially in a position generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said projectile so as to provide little resistance to the passage of said projectile through the tree foliage; and

locking means for holding said arms close to the side of said projectile and, in response to contact with the tree foliage, for extending said arms to a position substantially perpendicular to the side of said projectile, whereby said projectile as it descends will lodge in the top of the tree foliage with said antenna extended therefrom.

7. Apparatus for raising a portable field antenna as defined in claim 6 wherein said arms are made from a conductive material and conductively engaged with the tree foliage so .as to operate as a ground plane for said antenna.

8. Apparatus for establishing a radio communication from a location beneath dense foliage, said apparatus comp-rising:

.a projectile having a cavity therein;

means for launching said projectile through dense foliage;

an antenna transiently housed in the cavity in said projectile;

radio apparatus;

a length of transmission line, one end of which is connected to said antenna and the other end of which is connected to said radio apparatus;

means for extending said antenna from said projectile when said projectile has reached a predetermined altitude above the foliage; and

means vfor lodging said projectile on top of the foliage for maintaining said antenna thereabove.

9. Apparatus for establishing radio communication as defined in claim 8` wherein said means for extending said antenna includes a gas container frictionally engaged with one end of said projectile, a balloon housed within said projectile, a valve coupling said gas container and said balloon, said valve having a control arm coupled to the inside of said projectile, whereby when said projectile has reached said pre-determined altitude, said gas container is disengaged from said projectilel and draws said balloon from said projectile, thereby causing said valve to be actuated to allow gas to flow from said gas container to said balloon, said predetermined altitude being dened by said length of transmission line.

10. Apparatus for establishing radio communication as dened in claim y9 wherein said means for lodging said projectile on top of the foliage includes a plurality of spring-.biased arms pivotally mounted to the sides of said projectile, and locking means for initially holding said arms close to and substantially parallel with the side of said projectile and, in 4response to contact with the tree foliage, for extending said arms t-o a position substantially perpendicular to the side of said projectile, whereby said projectile as it descends will lodge in the top of the tree foliage with said antenna extended therefrom.

11. In combination:

a housing having selectively extendable means for permitting streamlined projection of said housing and for subsequently lodging the housing in a desired position;

radio apparatus spaced from said housing;

a balloon;

an antenna Wire for interconnecting said housing and said balloon; and a lead-in wire connecting said antenna to said radio apparatus.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hale t2-1.2

Williams 244-31 Lloyd et al. 325-114 Campbell 325-115 X Bayze S25-11.2 Seyfang 325--11 Jackson IGZ-34.1

Hermann et al. 102-1 HERMAN KARL SAA-LBAOH, Prmmry Examiner.

20 M. NUSSBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR RAISING A PORTABLE FIELD ANTENNA ABOVE HEAVILY WOODED AREAS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: FIRST MEANS FOR LAUNCHING A PROJECTILE-LIKE BODY TO A PREDETERMINED ALTITUDE; A PROJECTILE HAVING A CONTAINER THEREIN AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FIRST MEANS FOR BEING LAUNCHED THEREBY; AND ANTENNA HOUSED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER; SECOND MEANS HOUSED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER FOR EXTENDING SAID ANTENNA FROM SAID CONTAINER; THIRD MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ANTENNA FOR SUPPORTING SAID ANTENNA WHEN EXTENDED; A LENGTH OF TRANSMISSION LINE CONNECTED TO SAID ANTENNA, SAID LENGTH OF TRANSMISSION LINE DEFINING SAID PREDEDETERMIND ALTITUDE; FOURTH MEANS FOR DISPENSING SAID TRANSMISSION LINES; A PLURALITY OF SPRING-BIASED ARMS MOUNTED TO THE SIDE; OF SAID PROJECTILE, AND RADIALLY EXTENDABLE THEREFROM; AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID ARMS CLOSE TO SAID PROJECTILE AS SAID PROJECTILE IS LAUNCHED AND FOR PIVOTING SAID ARMS TO EXTEND OUTWARD FROM SAID PROJECTILE WHEN SAID ARMS CONTACT FOLIAGE OF THE WOODED AREA, SAID ARMS BEING OPERATIVE TO SUPPORT SAID CONTAINER ON SAID FOLIAGE AND TO PROVIDE A GROUND PLANE FOR SAID ANTENNA. 